Morrissey has used the “Messages From Morrissey” section of his official website to air his grievances about everything from a lack of financial support from the music industry to feeling creatively misunderstood by most everyone around him. Most read like frustration-fueled diary entries dressed up as public service announcements. But the most recent post on Morrissey Central appears to be more consequential.
“Morrissey has no choice but to offer for sale all of his business interests in “The Smiths” to any interested party / investor,” the post titled “A Soul for Sale” reads. Published on Sept. 3, the message offers up the Smiths’ name, artwork, merchandising rights, songs, synchronization rights, recordings, and contractual rights for publishing for sale to the highest bidder. It’s unclear whether Morrissey created the post himself — and representatives for the musician did not immediately respond to Rolling Stone‘s request for comment.
But it does include a quote that is attributed directly to him. “I am burnt out by any and all connections to [former Smiths members Johnny] Marr, [Andy] Rourke, [Mike] Joyce. I have had enough of malicious associations,” he allegedly shared. “With my entire life I have paid my rightful dues to these songs and these images. I would now like to live disassociated from those who wish me nothing but ill-will and destruction, and this is the only resolution.”
Last year, Morrissey stated that he accepted a “lucrative offer” from AEG Entertainment Group to reform the Smiths alongside Marr, but said that “Marr ignored the offer.” In a clarifying public statement, Marr reframed the narrative his former bandmate introduced about what actually happened. “I didn’t ignore the offer,” he said. “I said no.”
In 2023, the Smiths bassist Rourke died after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer, making any true reunion of the Smiths impossible. Meanwhile, drummer Joyce has been estranged from both Morrissey and Marr since an extremely contentious 1996 lawsuit over the Smiths royalties.
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“The songs are me – they are no one else – but they bring with them business communications that go to excessive lengths to create as much dread and spite year after year,” the Morrissey quote continues. “I must now protect myself, especially my health.”
The post concludes with contact information for “any serious investors,” though when Rolling Stone reached out for more information, the email bounced back.
